House members killed a texting-while-driving ban Wednesday night in the closing minutes of the 2014 session.

Rep. Bill Denny, the Jackson Republican who made the procedural motion that led to the bill's death, says he thought the ban only covered texting by drivers under 18, and asked the House to reject the bill.

He echoes longtime opponents who say texting while driving is no worse than other forms of distracted driving.

Proponents of the ban are indignant saying the vote wrecked what was already a compromise where fines would start low and tickets wouldn't count only as civil offenses.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data shows Mississippi is one of seven states where texting isn't banned for all drivers.